The 89th East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer

The East Texas Yamboree is one of the longest-running festivals in Texas, and the 89th edition runs Wednesday through Saturday, October 14-17, 2026, in downtown Gilmer. The festival celebrates the sweet potato, a former cash crop in Upshur County, but what it has become is a full-scale community celebration with carnival rides, a parade, live music, food vendors, exhibits, and the kind of crowd that fills every corner of the historic courthouse square. About 100,000 people attend over four days.

The 2026 lineup and events

Barn Dance: Saturday night live music

The Saturday night Barn Dance is the centerpiece of the Yamboree entertainment schedule, held at the Yamboree Event Center. This year's lineup features:

Beyond the Barn Dance, the Yamboree grounds feature a Gospel Stage with continuous entertainment throughout the weekend, street dances around the square, and the kind of spontaneous musical moments that happen when a town fills its downtown with people and amplified sound.

What makes the Yamboree special

The Yamboree started in the 1930s as a way to celebrate the sweet potato harvest, and it has grown into a four-day festival that fills every corner of Gilmer's historic downtown. The courthouse square becomes the center of the action: carnival rides line the streets, food vendors set up on every corner, and the parade route draws people from across Upshur County and beyond. The Queens Coronation on Wednesday evening kicks off the festival, and by Saturday the town is full.

• Barn Dance with live country music on Saturday night
• Queens Parade on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 AM
• School Parade with floats from Upshur County schools
• Carnival rides and games around the courthouse square
• Inside and outside exhibits with arts and crafts
• Livestock and Ag Mechanics Show
• Gospel Stage with continuous entertainment
• Food vendors with everything from corn dogs to yam specialties
• Floral Cup and Horticulture Show

Getting there from the property

From County Road 1070, head east on US-271 toward Mount Pleasant, then take I-30 east to Gilmer. The drive is about 40 minutes on paved roads, with the last stretch running through the pine-covered hills of Upshur County. Parking is available on streets around the courthouse square and in designated lots. For anyone evaluating the property as a primary home or weekend retreat, the Yamboree is the kind of regional event that makes Northeast Texas feel connected. Within 40 minutes you get a four-day festival with carnival rides, live music, and 100,000 neighbors.